The PIL seeks that all offset contracts with private organisations after 2005 be disclosed by the government, and must be quashed.
New Delhi: Amidst the controversy over the Rafale fighter jets deal, a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court seeks the repeal of the government's offset policy on the basis that the “scam” is against public interest.
The matter, which is listed for February 1, calls for the repeal claiming the offset deal has driven up the cost of various defence deals signed without actually bringing a tangible gain to the domestic industry.
Saurabh Jain, a 35-year-old lawyer who has filed the PIL, contends that the government's policy, which allows foreign defence suppliers to enter into offset contracts with private Indian companies, is being misused to favour preferred Indian companies and is leading to corruption and wastage of national resources.
“Foreign suppliers are misusing and mis-playing the liberty in Indian Government...